PC Tech World: workers

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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Fisker puts US workers on furlough to conserve cash

Fisker's cash reserves have been in trouble ever since its Department of Energy loans were frozen, and now its putting its US workforce on furlough to keep money in the bank while it searches for a partner with deep pockets. "This is a common practice, particularly in the automotive industry, to manage costs and operations based on current activity levels and commercial requirements," said Fisker, which has over 200 employees in America, in a statement concerning the unpaid leave. Considering that battery woes and other mishaps have contributed to keeping assembly lines quiet, current activity levels are indeed low. Reuters says the automaker hasn't built a car since July, and it's coming up against a federal loan payment in late April. According to the outlet, Fisker was aiming to partner with Chinese auto companies that could bolster its finances, but talks are said to have crawled to a stop. Regardless, the firm is still on the lookout for an investor to fuel the production of its Atlantic hybrid.

Source: Reuters

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Four workers sentenced in Samsung, SK Hynix corporate theft affair

Four sentenced in Samsung corporate theft criminal proceedings

There's finally resolution to a case that dates back almost three years, in which chip subcontractor Applied Materials was accused of stealing semiconductor secrets from Samsung and supplying them to its arch chip rival SK Hynix. According to Korean media outlets YTN and Yonhap, one Samsung employee along with two SK Hynix workers and one of its subcontractors received suspended prison sentences of up to a year with two years of probation. Eighteen defendants from Samsung, SK Hynix and Applied Materials were originally charged, but no high-level management employees were reported to be involved. Applied Materials and Samsung arrived at a civil settlement late in 2010, so this seems to put a wrap on the entire sordid affair.

Source: YTN, Yonhap

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Samsung Denies New Claims of Underage Workers In Its Supplier Plants

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Samsung Denies New Claims of Underage Workers In Its Supplier Plants Following allegations that a Samsung supplier used child labor in its factories, and an audit by Samsung which turned up no such thing, the claims are back. According to China Labor Watch there were definitely at least three underaged girls working for Samsung supplier HTNS Shenzhen Co. Samsung says otherwise.

The three workers in question were allegedly found to be a year or two under the minimum legal age of 16, despite having falsified IDs that listed them as old enough for the work. According to China Labor Watch, labor dispatch companies that are hired to round up workers at the plants will sometimes falsify documents in order to slip child workers past a company's rather lax vetting process for their own gain. So it's not like HTNS was out looking to hire kids, but they may not have been trying hard enough not to.

South China Managing Director of HTNS, Han Jang Seok has said otherwise however. He told Bloomberg "it is impossible for us to hire child labor," citing involved verification procedures that the China Labor Watch report suggests may not be involved enough.

Meanwhile, Samsung claims to have verified that there were not in fact any underage workers at the plant, releasing a statement today that:

"We have confirmed that there are no underage workers employed [at HTNS]. Samsung holds itself and its supplier companies to the highest standards and maintains a zero tolerance policy on child labor."

Whatever the case may be regarding the underage workers, Samsung's previous audits confirm that working conditions at many of its plants aren't exactly great in plenty of other ways. It's something to think about the next time you're mildly frustrated with your magic pocket computer. [China Labor Watch via Bloomberg]

Image by opopododo under Creative Commons license

View the original article here

By: Dilusha On 6:51 PM

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Foxconn starts replacing workers with robots

Soon to be replaced?

Your next iPhone could be made by robots.

That's because Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn has reportedly started replacing workers on its assembly line with machines designed to do the same task.

Founder and chairman Terry Gou told employees of the plans at a dance in July 2011. According to Gou, using robots should improve efficiency and counter rising labour costs.

The 'Foxbots', as they're known, have started arriving in at least one factory, with another 20,000 due before the end of the year. They cost between $20,000 and $25,000 each to produce. That's around three times what the average Foxconn employee earns in a year.

Foxconn has a chequered history on working conditions. There have been reports of workers committing suicide, rioting, and striking.

It was investigated by the Fair Labor Association earlier in the year.

Recently, Gou admitted it was struggling to keep up with demand for the iPhone 5. Reports came of those on the factory floor being worked too long and without sufficient training to produce the 'tricky' new Apple handset. Between 3,000 and 4,000 workers were reported to have gone on strike from the factory, but Foxconn denied it. An employee riot in August forced the temporary closure of one Foxconn factory.

It also denied employees were made to work through a national holiday, saying those who chose to were paid extra, in keeping with China's employment laws.

After 16 workers were reported to have committed suicide at the Shenzhen plant, the company fitted nets to discourage anyone from jumping.

It's also rumoured to be planning a factory in the US.

Via CNET